MASN Cuts Bloody Sock Comments From Re-Air Of Sox-Orioles

Thorne Claims Misunderstanding In Bloody Sock Comments

When MASN reaired Wednesday night’s Red Sox-Orioles game on Thursday morning, comments made by MASN analyst Gary Thorne about the stained sock Red Sox P Curt Schilling wore during Game Six of the ’04 ALCS “were not aired,” according to ESPN’s Bob Ley. Ley: “Apparently, they were edited out.” Thorne during the game said that the blood on the sock was actually paint, and that Red Sox C Doug Mirabelli confirmed the fact (“Outside The Lines,” ESPN, 4/26). On Thursday, Thorne said that it was a “misunderstanding arising from a brief clubhouse conversation” with Mirabelli. Thorne said at the end of their talk, “I kind of threw in a, ‘Was the sock painted or not?’ And I got a response that I thought, when he was talking about it, was serious” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/27). Thorne: “I reported what I heard and what I honestly felt was said. Having talked with [Mirabelli on Thursday], there’s no doubt in my mind that’s not what he said (and) that’s not what he meant” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/27). Mirabelli: “We’re both at an understanding what he thought I said was false. ... He feels bad about it. I think he knows he made a mistake. He told me he was going to do the best he can to clear it up” (USA TODAY, 4/27).

SCHILLING RESPONDS: Schilling, who did not comment to reporters, posted a retort on his blog today. Schilling: “For one of the first times this blog serves one of the purposes I’d hoped it would if the need arose. The media hacked and spewed their way to a day or two of stories that had zero basis in truth. A story fabricated by the media, for the media. The best part was that instead of having to sit through a litany of interviews to ‘defend’ myself, or my teammates, I got to do that here. ... I’ll wager 1 million dollars to the charity of anyones [sic] choice, versus the same amount to ALS. If the blood on the sock is fake, I’ll donate a million dollars to that persons [sic] charity, if not they donate that amount to ALS” (38PITCHES.com, 4/27).

JOURNALISM 101: In N.Y., Bob Raissman writes Thorne’s comment during the game was “neither opinion nor analysis. Thorne threw the line out there as if it were fact, without going to Schilling — or someone in the Red Sox organization — for a response. This was totally irresponsible” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/27).